Total pages in book: 176
Estimated words: 164533 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 823(@200wpm)___ 658(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164533 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 823(@200wpm)___ 658(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
“People are allowed to change their minds,” Nuala said, and for a second, I feared she’d read my thoughts. She was frowning down at the glass of wine in her hand.
“You said you’d come,” Tristan argued. “Aidan’s expecting you.”
“But I’ve made other plans with Martin.”
“So, bring him to the opening. I’m sure Aidan won’t mind,” Tristan countered just as Charli entered the kitchen, and like always, she sucked up all my focus. She had on the same trousers and blouse she’d worn to work, but she’d let her hair down. It hung wavy and lustrous around her shoulders. Her feet were encased in a pair of pale grey slippers, and I stared at the smooth, flawless skin of her ankles for a second before forcing my gaze away.
“We’ve only been on three dates,” Nuala argued. “It’s far too early for him to meet my entire family.”
“We promise not to embarrass you, honey,” Jo said before glancing at Charli. “Oh, and that reminds me, are you still coming, darling?”
“Coming to what?” she asked, and I noticed she held a wine glass and was searching for the bottle Nuala had opened. On instinct, I took the glass from her, our fingers brushing briefly before I set it down and poured her a drink.
She quietly thanked me with a small smile as Jo explained, “The opening for Aidan’s new restaurant is tomorrow night. I mentioned it a few weeks ago, remember?”
“Oh, tomorrow night?” Charli asked, taking a sip of wine. “I’m not sure I have anything to wear.”
“You must have a dress,” Jo encouraged. “And if not, you can borrow something from Nuala.”
“Charli’s knockers aren’t going to fit into any of my dresses,” Nuala chuckled, and Charli grinned. My gaze inadvertently lowered to said knockers before I forced myself to look away. God, they were perfect, though.
“She’s right, but don’t worry. I’ll find something. It sounds like fun, and I haven’t been for a night out since I got here. I need to branch out of my comfort zone.”
Suddenly, the idea of Charli being around Aidan had me stiffening in place. He’d fancied her when we were teenagers. I’d known it by the hungry way he’d sometimes stared at her, mostly because it was similar to how I would stare at her. What was I saying? I still fucking stared at her that way and had just been doing so mere seconds ago. Thankfully, Charli was oblivious.
“Okay, can somebody set the table?” Jo asked. “The food’s just about ready.”
“On it, dear,” Padraig said, kissing her cheek before he went to gather the place settings. Nuala, Tristan, and Derek followed their father into the dining room while Jo flittered about the kitchen tending to the food. Pablo and Gigi were in the living room watching TV.
Charli sidled up to me, her voice low when she asked, “Are you going to the opening, too?”
My eyes traced the curve of her cheek and her thick, pretty eyelashes. “Yes, I’ll be there.”
“Oh, thank goodness,” she burst, and I arched an eyebrow at her response, my lips curving in faint amusement.
“You seem relieved,” I stated, curious.
“I am. I … this is very embarrassing, but I haven’t been to a social event in, like, over three years. I’m ashamed to say I turned into a bit of a hermit during those final few years of my marriage. The idea of going out tomorrow night feels daunting,” she confessed, and I pressed my lips together in irritation. I was sure her controlling dickhead of a husband had loved that, not only cutting her off from her family and friends but having her tucked away at home all the time, too. Never talking to anyone except for him. It was textbook behaviour for controlling abusers.
“Anyway,” she went on, her hand coming to rest on my arm as she gently squeezed, her touch momentarily distracting me from my anger. “I hope you don’t mind, but I may need to latch onto you as a security blanket. I always feel better when you’re around, and Nuala won’t be there, so—”
“Of course. I’d be honoured to be your security blanket, Charli.” My voice was coarse as I met her gaze and saw the relief mixed with something else.
Something that got my blood pumping just that little bit faster.
I hated the idea of her being nervous to attend a restaurant opening. And at the same time, I was proud as fuck that I was the person she wanted to latch onto, the one who made her feel more comfortable. And sure, she’d only picked me because Nuala wasn’t going to be there, but still.
The sad truth was that when it came to Charli Moretti, I’d crawl on my knees to be her second, third, fourth choice. When it came to her, I’d take whatever I could get because she was the first girl to ever make my pulse race, the first girl to truly take the time to notice and understand me, and if being around her these last few weeks taught me anything, it was that no matter how much older I got, her effect on me was never going to change.